Today is my third day on the welfare challenge.
I got up early in the morning and I was hungry. I desperately wanted to have a cup of tea and a hot breakfast to go with it. But, I had no money.
I got ready quickly and had to walk over an hour to eat a free meal at the Surrey Urban Mission. When one is homeless, you wake up looking for food and you go to sleep looking for food.
Today, I had an interview with a worker from the Ministry of Social Development to learn about the process of applying for welfare.
There is a myth out there that applying for welfare is as easy as pulling up to a drive thru window for a meal, but I learned that the opposite is true. The application process was very complex and long. It could take up to four hours to complete the application. I also found that one must be well educated with good math skills to do it him/herself.
I stood in line with other income assistance recipients in front of a welfare office in the pouring rain. I got to speak with many people and hear their stories. The majority of them are there due to a loss of job or the troubled economy, and need help getting back on their feet.
At the end of the day, I got my $610 for the month. However, the following deductions were made before I physically got any money: $400 for rent; $20 deposit which IA claws back every month until the deposit money is paid back to them because they pay the deposit for you; $15 deducted for the two days of January which had passed by before I got the money; $42 for bus tickets; and $25 for a basic phone. I was left with $108, which is less than $4 per day.
My biggest challenge during the month will be to survive on $108. I know very well that with this amount I can afford to buy food only for survival; not necessarily healthy food or enough food for a man of my age and size.
It took me more than an hour to walk back from the Surrey Urban Mission to my room in the pouring rain in the darkness. I was wet and very cold, and I was hungry. After three days with no money, I finally had the option of buying food, so I grabbed a sub sandwich from a nearby shop and took it back to my room to eat before falling asleep after a very tiring day.
Jagrup explains his welfare budget.
Thank you so much for taking on this challenge! I am so proud to have an MLA who goes over and above the call of duty. I live in the Whalley area myself and have a heart for the homeless and broken people all around me. I would love to meet up with you for tea (my treat
) sometime during this month. Many blessings to you!
Jody Ross
“The application process was very complex and long. It could take up to four hours to complete the application.” << And at times extremely humiliating & demeaning. In Kelowna, there was a time when people were not allowed inside the building. They were given a number to wait out in the elements and could only come into the office once called. Then, the people on the front line were often rude and had such an attitude, it was horrible. Worst experience I've ever had in my life. Then, you think living on $600 is hard. Try living on the family allowance with 2 growing children. Add to that, I was gravely ill at the time I needed help. I was escalated to the disability allowance, just as Liberal Gov't came into office and they removed the allowance to make everyone equal.
My appreciation to you, Jagrup, for bringing attention to the devastating issue of poverty in BC. The mechanics of poverty, which you are experiencing, are very hard. Very hard. Harder yet is the emotional, which you may mostly miss, simply because you know you get to go home in 30 days. Add to your cold and hunger the gut-wrenching fear of never knowing if you’re going to get out of poverty, and worrying about how much worse it might get, like constantly running up the down escalator. The utter exhaustion of that fear. And the shame, how did someone like me get stuck in this mess? It can happen so fast, and can happen to anyone. And that shame walks on you like a beast — in order to get out of poverty, you have to hide your desperate circumstances from the outside world, so that you can find your way back into that stream of people moving up in the world. And when you fail, depression is waiting to devour you. Trying to make a better life for my daughter, as a young single mom, I got stuck on $834/mo income for over a year. I survived by incurring debt — which hangs on you like a ball and chain for years, keeping you poor, even as you improve your income. That was 15 years ago. I am now the NDP candidate in the Comox Valley, and I am so proud to have you, and many others in the NDP caucus, as partners in working to eliminate the deep poverty being experienced by so many in BC.
thank you for sharing your story. same story but different words. so in BC does the government take your child support ( if you’re so fortunate ) when on IA ? kat
From my personal experience I wouldn’t be able to answer your question. I have never received IA (I was ‘working poor’ – as so many in BC are these days), and also wasn’t receiving child support. However, I spent a number of years providing support & advocacy services in a Women’s Ctr and know that in BC, in almost all cases, the gov’t deducts any child support received, dollar for dollar, from IA benefits, as it is considered unearned income. To make matters worse, when the BC Liberals came to power in 2001, they began slashing Legal Aid mercilessly. Family law is no longer covered (except where violence is involved), and single parents living in poverty have no means by which to even pursue obtaining child support, which could make all the difference in the world between children growing up in poverty, and being lifted out of it. It is no surprise, nor is it any accident, that for the past decade BC has had the highest child poverty in Canada. Utterly shameful.
Welfare Lone Parent not allowed child support from former partners.
Since 2002 lone parents are not allowed to keep any child support money they received from expartners;
the government claws back every dollar of child support payments. And the ex-partner
pays income tax on this contribution, so the government takes twice! Before 2002 lone parents
could keep up to $100 per month of support money.
Wow, well written and thanks to Jagrup for taking on this challenge and for these insightful and honest responses. I to have been there, a single mom coming from a home of alcoholism and abuse. I was going to rise up no matter what chalenges I faced, including having been on welfare a couple of times and yes, the emotional cost is something so few ever talk about, but should be openly discussed. People treat you terribly making all kinds of assumptions about your character and educational level that are completely false, rude and often shocking. I have gone on to achieve a MA and have arisen so to speak however, it puzzles me the amount of respect one can receive in one place and the total lack of respect while standing in another . . . and yet, I am the same person. I may walk within a different context but I am the same woman and human being. I realize writing this the degree of hurt the negative assumptions and projects have placed upon my soul. Blessings and a sincere bottom of my heart thank you for your courage to walk in these shoes and talk about the walk as someone that the greater society can respect and gain some insight from.
I Was on assistance for 12 years not by my own choice. I identify with everyone of your situations and stories. That is also why I support the NDP party and I so appreciate the attention this matter is receiving. We need a living wage! I am now so far in debt from raising children even though I am not on assistance any longer I am only ever one cheque away from having to apply.
At least on assistance we had medical coverage and prescription coverage although we went hungry sometimes. Canada is a rich country. Awareness needs to grow.Canada has been in breech of the UN Convention of the Child for 6 years or more now!
Thank-you from all of us for telling our stories.
Most of us are just one pay cheque or so away from needing help.
Thank you. This post is a very big eye opener for those who are completely cluseless about welfare. good luck and all the best in your journey for the rest of the month.
I’m following this with great interest. Having gone through this experience and having been with friends through it, I already know how impossible it is. In fact, i don’t think it would be hyperbole to state that forcing people to live on this amount of money is a humaan rights violation. (forced meaning everything you earn comes off your check, so unless you earn more than $610, you are forced to subsist at this level).
I have been homeless many times. I am homeless today, but getting ready to move into a place. I will be technically homeless for awhile until I find out if this home is stable, as so many have not been…So much needs to change regardding public perceptions of poverty. Unfortunately, and I have been studying this very closely, our economy might have to reach the crisis that the US economy has before the average person decides that poverty is not just about laziness. Polls are showing that this perspective is shifting as more middle class people experience poverty. Having good advocates like an MLA, or the many of us with lived experience who have been advocating may not be enough. A financial crisis may be what wakes people up…
Canada bombed the hell out of Libya, a county that was no threat to us. They had less poverty at 5% thqan BC’s children do at 10.4%. Over 50 million dollars to bomb Libya when our people are starving. Morons, sensless government.
I am so impressed with this MLA actually living this life even if only for 30 days. He is obviously a compassionate man anyway but I think doing this will only make him more so and more of an advocate for the people who live this life always. Congratualations to him for his courage.
Now imagine having a still-breastfeeding 2 year old child with multiple food allergies, asthma, severe food aversions, in diapers, and constantly growing. The money just doesn’t go far enough when you are unemployed, and my ex refused to pay child support, so I had to depend on the generosity of family, strangers, and food banks to get through each month until I was gainfully employed again. I could go on and on about the challenges a single parent faces when they find themselves unemployed and unable to secure a job, but it would require an entire blog of my own.
It has been five years since then, and I’m now happily remarried, a business owner, and in much better financial standing. My husband and I volunteer at our local food bank every other week – yes, the same one that fed me and my son during a difficult time in my life. I will never forget the kindness and generosity of my community.
2 thumbs up- that is an awesome story
er- the end, I meant…I am glad you made it through the first part
Keep your chin up honorable Mr Jagrup Brar .. we need more MLA’s like you!
IF you’re lucky enough to find accommodations for $400 a month with Hydro included in a rental market with next to no vacancies and fraught with slumlords and discriminating landlords that jack rents up to keep out ‘undesirables, THEN you might have that $108 left. Keeping people in constant need like this is a violation of basic human rights and it is the shame of our province.
I agree Mandy.
Thank you, so much for doing this. I only wish some politican in Ontario would do this.
Thank you for caring enough to do what you are doing…Five thumbs up to you.
Thanks for a look at what should be a transparent look at the complicated system. Many developmentally challenged find the process too daunting and unfortunately its too little…too late. This so called “hand out” can take a persons credit rating and watch it swirl down the porcelain goddess. Yes sooner or later everything turns to poop, especially when dealing with the Ministry of Social Development.
I have an invisible disability. I would be pleased to get a raise, the last one I remember getting was $5 or $10, that was a few years ago! I personally am not asking for a ‘raise’, I would however like to see other changes.
Currently there is no incentive for PWD people to try and get ahead, if you earn over $500 the Govt. claws back any extra you might make. This discourages MANY people.
Disabled people are afraid of loosing their income, why even try when you are penalized for your efforts. The system is built backwards, it is dis-empowering instead of empowering. We live in legislated poverty.
A system could be implemented where 10% of anything over the earnings limit is deducted from your next cheque. If this was done, LOTS of people would be out generating income, feeling useful, have purpose and like that are contributing, and not being a burden to the system. Once you made enough to live on, you would be off of the system.
I would also suggest a separate ministry for disabled people, we have distinct, different needs.
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of the silent minority who have no unifying force or voice.
Also, if you have a spouse/partner that works, their income determines your eligibility – how is this equitable when most of the workforce/population seems to need 2 incomes to survive.
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I really liked your comments there Dale. I do have a question regarding IE and Ministry Of Social Development. How can the Ministry Of Social Development consider IE unearned income, I mean it is money you paid into while you were working, and then when you are no longer working and have to go back on Social Assistance because, you haven’t found work yet and they take it off your monthly cheque dollar for dollar. Some policies definietly need to be changed.
Why is anything considered unearned income! The only unearned income is a massive lottery. CPP we pay into while employed, wcb when we get hurt while working Old Age Pension contributions while employed.I thought I would be better off as a senior!
After learning that CEO David Hahn was earning 1.2 million per year I held a one women protest July 14th when Premier Crtisty Clark was coming to Kamloops. This was a liberal meet and greet being held at the Noble Pig Brewhouse (How fitting that the Noble Pig would be the place for this function) I held a sign that read ” Hello Ms. Clark…Are you listening ? Welfare not all is well or fair. Government yearly income David Hahn CEO BC Ferries 1.2 million Income Asistance PWD (Person with onDisablity) Yearly Single person $ 4,500.00, Support Yearly $6,372.00. Total Yearly$10,872.00 Couple Sheter rate yearly $6,840.00, Yearly support rate $8,406.42 Total Yearly $15,246.72″ This sign was 6 ft width and 3 ft heiight. Yes it got the attention of those entering the building and it definately got the Premiers attention. Later I decide to organize a rally to bring taxpayers the facts about income assistance. Thiswas held September 30th. The media covered this story and in attendance was NDP Federal candidate Micheal Crawford, NDP Provincial candidates Kathy Kendal and Tom Friedman. Look for news footage in the Kamloops Daily Paper, Kamloops This Week, and News footage from CFJC TV.
Without people stepping up to bring awareness to Legislated Poverty issue nothing will change. If anyone wants read the articles I’ve written on this issue please request via email at legislativepoverty@gmail.com. I become active in my community joining several organizations that focus on the issues around poverty